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              Number of first-years at the Campus Fryslân has doubled

              Campus Fryslân in Leeuwarden to hold special ‘local solutions to global problems’ climate adaptation courses

              Martini Tower to ring in curfew with centuries-old alarm bell

              Martini Tower to ring in curfew with centuries-old alarm bell

              More than a start-up: Chordify helps people play their favourite songs

              Groningen-based Chordify app got 73.7 million visitors in 2020

              Gemeente Groningen to support struggling sports clubs

              Gemeente Groningen to support struggling sports clubs

              US Climate group suggests much of the Netherlands to be a new Atlantis by 2050

              US Climate group suggests much of the Netherlands to be a new Atlantis by 2050

              Additional Coronavirus measures to be announced on Wednesday

              The “Toeslagen Affair:” why did the Dutch government resign last week?

              Masters of chess: Jorden van Foreest played against world champion Magnus Carlsen

              Masters of chess: Jorden van Foreest played against world champion Magnus Carlsen

              Leeuwarden to hold pro-refugee demonstration on Saturday

              Asylum seekers’ details illegally shared with the police by The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA)

              Crystal Meth lab found in old barn in Miedum (Leeuwarden)

              Crystal Meth lab found in old barn in Miedum (Leeuwarden)

              Trending Tags

              • Covid-19
              • Lifestyle
                • All
                • Food & Drinks
                • Nightlife
                • Shopping
                • What's happening
                Digital ESNS festival reaches people from ‘124 countries’

                Digital ESNS festival reaches people from ‘124 countries’

                The show must go on: ESNS music festival starts Wednesday (online)

                The Northern Times’ ESNS 2021 highlights: Thursday and Friday

                Drenthe backs subsidies to improve bee and butterfly numbers

                Drenthe backs subsidies to improve bee and butterfly numbers

                The most wonderful time of the year…

                The most wonderful time of the year…

                “Number of physical lessons at NHL Stenden can rise again, thanks to lower Coronavirus levels”

                NHL Stenden holding online Christmas celebrations for students unable to get home

                City Central to host Boxing Day online games night

                City Central to host Boxing Day online games night

                Groningen’s top restaurants get together and develop gourmet takeaway box

                Groningen’s top restaurants get together and develop gourmet takeaway box

                ESN organising Christmas events (online and offline) for Internationals

                ESN organising Christmas events (online and offline) for Internationals

                Groningen’s market takes extra measures to stay open

                You are what you eat: gastronomic local delights

                Trending Tags

                • Culture
                  • All
                  • Dutch history
                  • Typical Dutch
                  RUG, UMCG, and Groninger Museum come together for face mask competition

                  People called ‘Wappie’ (traditional Frisian name) surprised with its new meaning

                  41st edition of International Film Festival Assen to be completely online

                  41st edition of International Film Festival Assen to be completely online

                  Rolling Stones exhibition in Groninger Museum extended

                  Rolling Stones exhibition in Groninger Museum extended

                  The show must go on: ESNS music festival starts Wednesday (online)

                  The show must go on: ESNS music festival starts Wednesday (online)

                  Drenthe’s two millennia-old horn blowing Boxing Day tradition

                  Drenthe’s two millennia-old horn blowing Boxing Day tradition

                  NNO and Groninger creatives to pay musical tribute to the city

                  NNO and Groninger creatives to pay musical tribute to the city

                  A Coronavirus-proof Christmas in the North: Get into the holiday spirit despite the lockdown

                  A Coronavirus-proof Christmas in the North: Get into the holiday spirit despite the lockdown

                  Sinterklaas: treats, poems, and racist caricatures

                  Sinterklaas: treats, poems, and racist caricatures

                  Forum Groningen to show film as tribute to footballer Diego Maradona

                  Forum Groningen to show film as tribute to footballer Diego Maradona

                  Trending Tags

                  • People
                    • All
                    • Expats
                    • International students
                    From a WhatsApp group to a community: BLOG offers a ready-made social space for Black Ladies in Groningen

                    From a WhatsApp group to a community: BLOG offers a ready-made social space for Black Ladies in Groningen

                    First students snap up alternate study spots in Oosterpoort

                    Dutch student grades rise during pandemic whilst mental health suffers

                    NHL_Stenden_studying

                    New students in Leeuwarden get ‘Coronaproof’ introduction week

                    Dutch King orders new 2-million euro yacht from Frisian boat builder

                    King visits Drenthe, ignored by window cleaner

                    The freshest of threads: send in your designs and become the next sustainable fashion sensation

                    The freshest of threads: send in your designs and become the next sustainable fashion sensation

                    “We were hoping to start making friends in the summer”

                    “We were hoping to start making friends in the summer”

                    Party at home like a King with Temple this weekend

                    Party at home like a King with Temple this weekend

                    Heads in copper clouds: a Portuguese wanderer in Friesland

                    Heads in copper clouds: a Portuguese wanderer in Friesland

                    Vlieland lighthouse being refurbished

                    Vlieland football team suffers from serial prankster

                    Trending Tags

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                      • Education
                      Law students: Harmony Complex safety an issue

                      The RUG is one of the Netherlands’ best universities, so why do its teaching staff give such low-grade feedback?

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                      Dutch trousers! Drents-born entrepreneur finds success in Canada with low-price equestrian gear

                      Could you Meet Your Future in the Digital World? Online career event for Internationals going live in February

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                      The Northern Times’ guide for learning Dutch in the North

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                      From Chile to the USA: Repak in Emmen eyes up the global market

                      From Chile to the USA: Repak in Emmen eyes up the global market

                      Could you Meet your Future in Energy? Online career event for Internationals in the North

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                      RUG Campus Fryslân and Wetterskip Fryslân team up for climate adaption competition

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                      8,000 new students at Hanze

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                      Fryske Akademy in Leeuwarden to receive EU subsidy for furthering ‘world-citizen’ education

                      Fryske Akademy in Leeuwarden to receive EU subsidy for furthering ‘world-citizen’ education

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                      Fan Ding: “An old prison turned into a wonderland”

                      Fan Ding: “An old prison turned into a wonderland”

                      Matthijs van Houten by Matthijs van Houten
                      March 26, 2018
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                      My husband thinks I am a fake Chinese person, while I think he is a fake Irish person. In fact, we are more or less the same, just like many other ordinary people who live their everyday lives. I consider myself a global citizen, and home is where I live.

                      By Fan Ding

                      During the past 11 years, my home has been located in Leeuwarden, and it has been a complicated journey for me to truly recognize its beauty. This is a personal story that involved a paradigm shift in order to fall in love with where I live.

                      I used to be a complainer who spent a lot of negative energy on regret and guilt. Especially when it came to where I live, it seemed like there were only drawbacks about this small town: the weather is too rainy and windy, the winter is too long and dark, the center is too quiet and boring, the town is too limited and unfashionable, the people are too strange and impolite, and the food is too simple and unappetizing.

                      “I was not open to adjusting to the living environment”

                      That mindset blocked me from enjoying life and eventually led me into a depression. The truth is that I was not comfortable with the unknown, and I was not open to adjusting to the living environment. I was used to living in mega metropolitan cities, and I failed to value the unfamiliar. Perhaps more importantly, I was not able to appreciate the quality of life here in the north of The Netherlands.

                      My heart and mind changed after a New Year’s Eve party back in 2013. I had been living in Leeuwarden for a couple of years by then, and after having had probably a little bit too much to drink, I was slowly walking home with my sober husband. That slow walk gave me the opportunity to take in my new “views”: the old houses, the cute bridges and the canals suddenly looked extremely authentic, and the diverse street art offered a modern touch to the city. As we passed the Blokhuispoort, a former prison built in 1498, it looked like a castle warmly lit by golden light. I thought it resembled a Disney theme park, even though I have never been to one.

                      Blokhuispoort

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                      It convinced myself to reset my mind and focus on the meaningful aspects in life. What did I have to lose? I cannot change the weather, but I can manage my mood.

                      Quality of life

                      Quality of life is good here in the north. It takes me 5 minutes to get to work by car (traffic is almost non-existent), 10 by bike, and 20 on foot. Imagine the commute time I save daily compared to living in a large city. Leeuwarden is fairly small with easily accessible shops, cafes, restaurants and museums. The air is fresh and parks and nature surround the city. Housing is relatively cheap: my friends pay about two to three times more to live in Amsterdam with similar standards.

                      Although there are more internationals moving here, the relatively intimate nature of the community encourages people to meet up often and help each other out. Like anywhere else in the world, meeting new people is never easy: the best way is just to join group activities and small events where you can open up and talk to others who have common interests. And despite the stereotypes, the locals are not just farmers. I have met many energetic, friendly, creative, down-to-earth and kind people here.

                      Healthcare and childcare are extremely well organized compared to many other industrialized countries in the world. Dutch school systems are diverse and offer equal opportunities, and quality of education is fairly high. As a lecturer working in higher education, I highly value small group teaching and interactive learning. The philosophy of social constructivism emphasizes the power of sharing and promotes interaction. The students are treated as young professionals and independent thinkers. Subsidizing EU students’ tuition fees makes higher education available to pretty much everyone.

                      Finding any authentic foreign cuisine here is admittedly a challenge, but I find myself enjoying cooking at home more and more. I don’t have to spend long hours at work, so I can spend more time with my family and friends.

                      Leeuwarden

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                      Life is simple and peaceful here, and the quality of life is outstanding in my opinion. What more could I really want? It may sound overly rational, but thinking my way through it has helped me overcome some of the emotional difficulties of being an immigrant. Looking back, I feel like I was imprisoned by my own way of thinking: by focusing only on the most superficial layer of existence, I was keeping myself from enjoying everyday life and taking the beauty of Leeuwarden for granted.

                      Now, I feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment with where I am. I know I would miss this place if I move again in the future: I definitely consider Leeuwarden a home sweet home.

                      Tags: BlokhuispoortFrieslandLeeuwarden
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                      Hi! I'm Matthijs. I'm editor and journalist for The Northern Times. Do you have news for us? Don't hesitate to contact me!

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